Digital freeview- son't let the retailers scam you

squashy

I have been doing a bit of googling as i am looking for a new tv so thought I would go for one with Integrated Digital (IDTV). But I have been surprised at how few there are out there.

Found this interesting report by the Digital Tv Group (in response to gvt questions it seems)

http://www.dtg.org.uk/publications/responses/idtv_response.pdf#search=%22integrated%20digital%20tv%22

Compare this to the contrasting advice from somewhere like Comet (see the beige box bottom right) http://www.comet.co.uk/comet/html/cache/digital_tick.htm

It seems obvious to me that the retailers are stringing peope along for as long as possible, contining to flog analogue sets and seperate freeview boxes, so they can go on to sell you a replacement IDTV in a couple of years when they switch of the analogue signal- rendering your nearly new set useless without an adaptor.

So if you need a new TV, bear this in mind, shop around. I have my eye on a Sanyo 28" IDTV in Asda currently for £249

Edit: Sorry just noticed the typo in the header!!

MarkyMarkD

I know what you mean, but anyone who buys a non-IDTV and an adaptor is no more useless on the switch off of the analogue signal than someone with an IDTV - they can still receive TV through their adaptor.

You can argue (not that I would) that it's better to have a separate adaptor because if the adaptor within your IDTV packs in, the whole TV may be scrap whereas a new adaptor will cost buttons, relatively speaking.

Having said all that, we have had an IDTV for almost two years and it's FAR more convenient than faffing with a set-top box, like I have to in my study with my analogue TV.

GeoThermal

I'm not sure I follow. If you have a standard analogue TV now and a digital Freeview box plugged into it, isn't it going to work just fine when the analogue TV signal is switched off?

devild_2

yes it will still receive stations via the adaptor

GeoThermal

So what is the problem?

HACZ

There isn't a problem. An analogue tv with a set top box will be fine.

MarkyMarkD

That was my point.

KathrynPenguin

Funny I have the opposite problem, every danged set I look at has an integrated freeview recieve that I don't want, the cheaper versions without the freeview (which do exist) are just not in the shops. I don't want freeview in my TV, I have Sky and freeview is not remotely comparable. Nor can I even recieve it in my area a few miles outside the M25 but may as well be the Outer Hebrides).

If I was ever interested in freeview though I wouldn't want it in my telly I'd want a PVR with twin recievers - far better route to travel IMHO and cheaper to replace if a component fails.

Woby_Tide

but it's good that all the analogue CRT screens are dropping in price thus you can get a decent screen and afford a decent freeview box whilst the plasma and LCD crowd can watch the same programmes on an inferior screen for 5 times the price. Marvellous.

squashy

GeoThermal wrote:

So what is the problem?

Well there isn't a huge problem...if you are happy to have an analogue tv and a set top box then that's great (as I would be had my ancient old tv not finally kicked the bucket). My point is, be aware that the retailers are definately playing on the fact that in 2 or 3 years time freeview boxes are going to look "old fashioned", that people will be sucked in by the latest "must have" IDTV when they only bought an ordinary one relatively recently, that people may not like having to use up one of their scart sockets in order to get more channels etc etc. The technology is there but the retailers and the manufactureres are waiting to go for the jugular at a time when it will make them the most money ie when they start switching off the analogue signal. *allegedly*

stiffnuts69

squashy wrote:

Well there isn't a huge problem...if you are happy to have an analogue tv and a set top box then that's great (as I would be had my ancient old tv not finally kicked the bucket). My point is, be aware that the retailers are definately playing on the fact that in 2 or 3 years time freeview boxes are going to look "old fashioned", that people will be sucked in by the latest "must have" IDTV when they only bought an ordinary one relatively recently, that people may not like having to use up one of their scart sockets in order to get more channels etc etc. The technology is there but the retailers and the manufactureres are waiting to go for the jugular at a time when it will make them the most money ie when they start switching off the analogue signal. *allegedly*

I really dont get your point. In fact you are talking nonsense. I just think other people are too polite to say it.